Evolution of management consulting in digital transformation and business ecosystems

Abstract

   This article examines the transformation of management consulting (MC) functions driven by the ongoing nature of digital transformation and companies' strategic goal of building or integrating into business ecosystems. It demonstrates that under these conditions, a fundamentally new model of consulting-client relationships is emerging, based on long-term strategic partnerships rather than one-off project interventions. The traditional role of external expert is being replaced by the integrated function of the consultant as a strategic integrator of change and partner-coach, whose activities are aimed at developing sustainable and adaptive ecosystem business models that serve as the foundation for long-term competitive advantage. The study analyzes the redistribution of roles between external and internal consultants and proposes a structure for their interaction with the client company, including diagnostics of change readiness and an assessment of digital maturity at all stages of organizational transformation.    Particular emphasis  is placed on the fact that successful ecosystem transformations require not only technological modernization but also targeted changes in the client's organizational culture, as well as the consistent development of a self-learning organization capable of continuous adaptation.    The emergence of new players in the consulting services market is also examined: tech giants (Yandex, Google, Nvidia) and digital platforms (banks, government portals), which are beginning to actively compete with traditional consulting firms by offering integrated solutions with built-in expertise.